The Sarah Baartman District Municipality recently showcased the “7 Wonders” of the district at the Cape Town World Travel Market.
The “7 Wonders” are as follows:
• Addo
• Baviaans and the Gamtoos Valley
• Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown)
• Jeffreys Bay and St Francis
• Karoo
• Sunshine Coast
• Tsitsikamma and Langkloof
Executive Mayor, Deon de Vos, said that SBDM derived a series of measures to protect and rejuvenate supply, reignite demand and strengthen enabling capability in the tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a profound impact on the tourism sector.
He further said that the World Travel Market platform is a great opportunity for the region’s industry players as it puts the district’s “7 Wonders” tourism brand in front of buyers, influencers, and tens of thousands of potential customers.
“This platform is one of the marketing drives to promote the Sarah Baartman region to the world as a destination. It creates an opportunity to network with different stakeholders and has assisted the team in keeping abreast of global trends and new developments within the African tourism and travel industry,” said De Vos.
He said that SBDM invited both local tourism organisations and local municipalities within local economic development to robustly market the district in a coordinated manner under one umbrella to increase brand awareness.
De Vos said that by showcasing the different tourism nodal areas and tourism products at the World Travel Market, they want to drive tourism growth and increase the number of visitors to the region.
“When attending these expos, we get an opportunity to research customer needs and feedback for new tourism product launches,” said De Vos.
He added that they network and connect with prospective customers and sector professionals who bring valuable insight and guidance.
De Vos noted that they also meet with key role players in the tourism industry, including potential funders.
He explained that it is an opportunity to strengthen business relationships and cultivate future partnerships.
De Vos further said that they reinforce their perceived expertise by meeting with different experts and innovators who are ready to share knowledge and insights relevant to their challenges.
According to him, they are able to engage with leaders, attend workshops and get involved in discussions, educational sessions and panels.
In addition, De Vos said that they learn about the new developments and key industry trends.
“SBDM would never be able to do this without the collaboration and support of its local municipalities and the local tourism organisation,” said De Vos.
“Local government is perceived to be the agent of change and the vehicle for development at a local level, including tourism development and marketing.”
De Vos said that according to the South African Constitution, municipalities have a responsibility to exercise the developmental mandate across all functions delivered at a local level, including the development and marketing of the tourism sector.
He said that local tourism is the responsibility of both the district and local municipalities.
De Vos said that the White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa (1996) promotes the development and management of the tourism industry in South Africa in a responsible and competitive manner.
Key guiding principles for tourism development, as set out in the White Paper, follow:
• Development through tourism should be private sector driven;
• Government should provide an enabling environment for the development of tourism;
• Effective community involvement should form the basis of tourism growth;
• Tourism should be underpinned by sustainable environmental practices;
• Tourism development is dependent on co-operation and close partnerships among key stakeholders;
• Tourism should be used as a developmental tool for the empowerment of previously neglected communities;
• A safe and stable tourism environment should be created.
“The impact done by this platform will not be realised instantly as we first need to provide SBDM with marketing intelligence so that tourism products, experiences and offerings meet the needs of tourists as well as ensure that future marketing campaigns are more effectively executed by obtaining a better understanding of the tourism market,” said De Vos.
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